Nick's Journal

Cycle 5B, October 6

Here are the observations I made of the
overall habitat and area of the Punahou Lily Pond.

Pond Environment:

Plants: Lily Flowers, Pads and Algae "Sludge"
The lily flowers on the lily pads were very scarce and were white
with bright variations of yellow on them. The lily pads were mostly green,
but were differentiated by the variations of them which included colors
like yellow, brown, and red! They were growing almost everywhere in the
pond in big groups, covering around 3/4 of the water. The algae or as I
call "sludge" because it looks like it and it was mainly black or a very dark green.
It was growing mainly on the sides of the lily pond and the bottom, as well.

Animals: Koi Fish and Turtles
The Koi fish were many different colors like orange, yellow, white,
grey, and black. There also looked like there were tinier coy fish or
maybe baby ones that were all mostly black.

Outside Weather: Partly Cloudy
The weather was quite sunny with blue skies and
very white cumulous clouds.

Water: Dark, Murky Water
The water in the lily pond was very murky, however, you were still able
to see the brighter colored coy fish swimming in the water. It was difficult
to see the camouflaged black and gray fish, though. There were also
many mysterious looking particles in the water, especially near the lily pads.
I couldn't see the bottom of the pond, but it looks pretty deep by the look
of the length of the lily pad stems.

Assigned Journal Entry #1: Niches of Organisms
A niche is the full range of physical and biological conditions that an organism lives
and the way it uses those conditions, as well. So, basiclly, it is the occupation
in an ecosystem that an organism inhabits or lives by. In the lily pond, the fish, turtles,
lilies, algae, soil, and other micro-organisms are varied in the roles they play in this
semi-manmade environment. The soil is something that was put at the bottom of the lily pond
to help the lilies grow and blossom throughout the entire pond. The algae grows on the sides,
top, and bottom of the pond and grow just as other plants do, but are used a a main source of
food to the fish around them. The turtles too eat the algae, as well as the lilies pads(maybe), so they
cover almost the same niche as with the fish. The fish and turtles don't just contribute their
diets to this ecosystem, but also, to my knowledge, help move and circulate the water
and in doing these things, they prevent the overgrowth of algae. The lily plants are
given room to grow, the water stays clear or clear enough, and other organisms,
that call this place home, are able to move around all over the lily pond, whether under
the shade of the lilies or in the reflection of the light from the sun!

Cycle 6F, October 21

This week we finally settled out what assigned roles we each would have
for this project. So, from now on, I will be researching the soil and water
of the lily pond or abiotic factors. Here are the observations that I made:

Water:
The level of water in the lily pond was about 2.5 feet. Throughout a day, I would
check the temperature of the water. In the morning, at around 10:15, the temperature
was about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. In the afternoon, at around 2:00, I took the temperature
of the water and it was about 79.9 degrees Fahrenheit. However at around 3:30, the
temperature was 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit. And, I checked at different locations of the pond,
too and the temperature still was the exact same. So, what I'm wondering is why
the temperatures varied throughout the day? What temperate conditions make the pond's
temperature change? But, I also checked the clarity or the clearness of the water
and then I wondered why is the water a murky and unclear color? I mean, what

factors make the water that color? The water can be very thick, even without moving the soil
at the bottom, but I used a tool, that I'll find out the name and let you know next visit, to
check the clearness of the water and about 2.5 feet below the surface of the water to the bottom of the pond I was still able to see the spinning round tool.

Soil:
I tried to use a soil testing kit to see the amount of Nitrogen, Phosphorus,
and Potassium, however it didn't work and when I went to try and
redo the experiment there wasn't much soil at the bottom of the pond.
So, next time, I'll surely let you know how that experiment does work out!
I didn't know how exactly the jar test worked, but I next time, as well, I'll get
a jar and scooped out some soil from the bottom. I'm thinking, however, that
this experiment, if I let the soil sit for a while, will separate and show me the
amounts of clay. silt, and sand, are in it. I did look at the color of the soil, as well,
and I'm wondering if the soil is what makes the water so murky? And if so,
then what makes the soil a blackish sort of color, too?

Assigned Journal Entry #2: Symbiotic Relationships of Organisms
Symbiosis is any relationship, in which two species are living closely together. Symbiosis
includes three different kinds of relationships to this big topic of symbiosis.These symbiotic
relationships are commensalism, parsitism, and mutualism. I know and have seen
commensalism and parasitism both occuring in the lily pond, however, I'm going to tell you
about the mutualism in this ecosystem. Well, this relationship doesn't only include two species
but most of them. So, the fish and turtles both are in a relationship with the lily plants because
they share the same environment and benefit from each other in many ways. These two groups
involving three different organisms help and take care of each other in the process of taking care
of themselves. The fish and turtles benefit by eating the algae in the lily pond and help these plants
by allowing them to grow a become the domminant plant in the pond. The lilies, however,
also contribute to this mutual relationship by providing homes and shade for the fish and
turtles from the sun, rain, and other weather conditions. In this mutualistic relationship
of symbiosis between the fish and turtles and the lily plants, they booth contribute to the
needs and survival of one another. Even without purposefully trying to help out each other,
these organisms' unintentional and uncontrolable ways of life are what make this relationship
perfect and easily mutualistic.

Overall Questions Proposed:
Why do the water temperatures vary throughout the day?
What kind of conditions in the weather make the pond's temperature change?
Why is the water murky and what factors make it this color?
Does the soil make the water a murky sort of color?
If so, what makes the soil that color then?

Cycle 9B, November 12

This week we all kind of forgot that we needed to do an ecosystem study,
since we haven't done it for a while. So, we all went separately and all I
hope is that we get focused observations, inferences, and hypotheses.

Observations:
Water: Grey and Murky
There was more water this time, I'm guessing maybe a centimeter to an inch higher
The water seemed as black and murky as it always has been
There was more water this time, I'm guessing maybe a centimeter to an inch higher
I noticed that at the very top of the pond, near the stairs there was a football
that was floating. This time I saw the football toward the end of the chapel.
So I'm wondering what made the water move the football further down
When I took the temperature of the water it was 78.9 degrees.

Outside Weather: Partly Cloudy
Grey and cloudy
The sun came out a little and then it started to rain
It was 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

Plants: Lily Pads Everywhere
There was about the same amount of lily pads if not
more except they look a little more torn up and ruffled up out of the water.
Not as many lilies as before, maybe it's because of the rain and weather.

Soil: Shriveled Leaves and Thin Dirt
There's not much to say about the soil because it is usually hard to see.
Again the bottom of the pond was very hard, however I did get some results in from
my soil tests. So, in the soil through various tests, I found out that there was a very low
amount of Potash and Nitrogen, and a medium amount of Phosphorus. I also found
that the soil, however, had a very high pH of 8 which showed that the soil was very alkaline, as well.

Inferred Answers to Questions:
Why do water temperatures vary throughout the day?
I think that the temperature of the water varies throughout the day because
of the change in air temperatures or the weather.

What kind of conditions in the weather make the pond's temperature change?
Actually, as I begin to think more clearly, I know that all kinds of weather conditions
help sort of shape the temperature of the water. I noticed that the temperature
of the air is a little warmer than the temperature of the water, but not by much.
I took the temperature of the water and it was 78.9 degrees. Then I took the temperature
of the air just above it and it was 82.4 degrees. So, they weren't that far off from
each other. The answer I'm proposing is yes that the water temperature will correspond
with the surrounding weather and air temperatures.

What factors make the water, or the soil, so murky and brown?
From my research, I have found that alkaline soils are clay soils with a high exchangeable
sodium percentage. These are also known to be poor in soil structure and have a low
infiltration capacity with a hard calcareous or a chalky/limestone layer. I know this is even true
from conducting soil tests where I had to put my entire arm into the pond and dig
for soil. It was very difficult to because it was hard (go figure) and it would just be too thin
to make it above water.

Hypotheses:

If the air and weather is hot, then the water of the lily pond should be relatively warm too. It's temperature will correspond with the temperatures surrounding it.
If the soil is brown and murky then so should the water, since water isn't really a color then we should be looking at a reflection or a color from where the water line ends or where the soil begins.
The lily pond soil is murky and chalky because it is alkaline and has a high pH. It is alkaline and therefore doesn't have great soil quality. It has a low infiltration capacity and therefore is hard and again doesn't have great quality.

Assigned Journal Entry #3: Environmental Pressures
In the Lily Pond, there are many different occurrences that drive organisms to adapt and,
through the course of generations, create different variations in each other. Natural Selection is the
process, in which, favorable and most effective traits become more common in successive
generations of reproducing populations. Here, some of the challenges organisms such as fish, algae,
and turtles face are predation, competition for food and space, and disease. Predation in the lily pond
include Koi fish eating algae, turtles eating algae, and also the birds drinking the water. I've read that
birds develop special glands for the water that they drink. Like, seabirds that drink seawater have developed
salt glands over thousands of years to eliminate the excess salt out of their nostrils. So, these birds that
wander around this pond, probably aren't really new to this ecosystem and depend on it for water that is
must needed. Competition for food and space can also be a problem sometimes when there are too many
fish and the bigger ones are able to eat more and get more food throughout the pond. Well, being small
also has it's advantages, too! I noticed that most, if not all, of the small Koi fish are black, this probably is so
because they are able to not be seen as easily and can get food without being noticed as much. And because
they are small they can swim a lot faster too. There are only around two turtles in the pond and don't have,
in my opinion, much competition because of this small population and because they also have claws and
could get algae more efficiently and scare predators too, I guess. So, in this ecosystem, environmental
pressures can drive some organisms to change and better themselves to become successful in the race
for survival and reproduction.

Cycle 11C, December 3

This week is when we make an experiment to test
one of our hypotheses, but I also did some research and
wanted to share that, as well, because I think it will
help me design my experiment.

Observations and Research:
Koi fish, I read, feed on both animals and plants. Koi food is designed not only to be nutritional,
but also to float and encourage them to come to the surface.Koi will recognize a person feeding them,
or will gather around someone during feeding times. So, that is why they were following me the other week.
They increase the turbidity greatly in the pond because they constantly stir up the soil. So, this why the
pond is always murky. They also reduce the abundance of aquatic plants and can cause the water to
become unsuitable and unstable for swimming of drinking, even by livestock.

Water:
The water looks very turbid and black. Darker than usual, I have to say. But, that's probably just because
it's a reflection of light, or no light for that matter, from the gray clouds above. Other than that it looks very
normal from the many visits we've taken.

Plants:
The lily pads look a little more ruffled up and there looks like there is just about the same amount of
them too. Ruffling and wrecking these plants, I think, are the balls and winds moving the lily pads.

Experiment:
I decided to go with my first hypothesis and test that the outside temperatures affect the water temperatures.
I have specified my hypothesis a little more, however, I now say that the outside temperatures should correspond with
the water temperatures within a 10-point margin. I will test all of these occurrences in a container because well,
I don't exactly have breaks at the time intervals that I had picked. So, this is the best way for me to get accurate
temperatures throughout a normal-weather type of day. This is what I did, in an ordered list, to test how long, how, and why this is so...

Get a Container
Fill it with water, add some soil and plants
Take temperatures with thermometer at various intervals throughout the day.

Results:

Preview of your graph

Temperature Levels in Outdoor Air and Water
Time	Air Temperatures	Water Temperatures
9:00 AM	77 degrees F	76 degrees F
1:00 PM	80.1 degrees F	89.9 degrees F
4:00 PM	77.1 degrees F	81.1 degrees F
7:00 PM	71.6 degrees F	76 degrees F
9:00 PM	75.9 degrees F	73.2 degrees F

Conclusion to Results:
From my results, I have concluded that this experiment does prove my hypothesis.
As you can see above, most of the air temperatures tend to be cooler than the water temperatures.
So, as it got sunnier during the day, the water, all in all, got warmer and warmer. I think this
is so because as there is more sunlight, the more the water absorbs it, however, the less
sunlight there is, all in all, the less sunlight the water absorbs. This proves my hypothesis because
even air and water temperatures that are the farthest away, like the ones taken at 1:00, are within the
10-point margin I had figured.

Assigned Journal Entry #4: Carbon Cycle
To describe the carbon cycle of the lily pond, is a little hard for me. So, I have decided just to
list them starting from producers of carbon emissions to consumers of CO2.

"Producers"

At the lily pond, there aren't that many disturbances producing carbon emissions, however, there is the Chapel, as well as many classrooms all over the campus that uses electricity from the Hawaiian Electric Company that releases carbon in the atmosphere and uses fossil fuels to power other places, like these, all over the island. It may have solar panels on it, but, it doesn't start actually using all that energy and paying for itself until about 10 years.
The vog, from the Halema'uma'u Crater on the Big Island, can be seen and often felt throughout the school, especially on hot days. This is another producer of carbon emissions, however, unlike the electricity and fossil fuel use, this has been a natural occurrence for all if not most of the Earth's history.
Humans, again, are involved with releasing CO2 when we exhale. We take in oxygen and let out CO2. The world population is almost at 7 billion people, and along with exhaling, that means that there's a lot more CO2 in the atmosphere then ever before. It doesn't quite matter about just the people around the lily pond, because plants take in any carbon dioxide they can. And it's everywhere, from anyone!
The sun is also a producer of carbon dioxide, and usually most of the infrared light in it is released into space, however, more is being held and kept within the atmosphere and raising temperatures on Earth.
In a minor sense, plants do release carbon, as well, through cellular respiration which occurs both night and day. From the plants in the pond, like algae, to plants around and above it, like the coconut trees, they all release some CO2 into the atmosphere, however, are again a natural occurrence of Earth's. Plants, not just living, but dying and decomposing also add CO2 into the atmosphere, as well.

"Consumers"

The plants not only give off CO2, but thanks to them, many organisms, including ourselves, are able to breathe in the oxygen they emit, through a process called photosynthesis. For the most part of the day, plants are usually photosynthesizing to make food for themselves. They need CO2, sunlight, and water to perform this, and at the lily pond they have enough of each. However, it's a good thing that there are a lot of plants on Earth, and as humans begin to realize their great importance, there are more and more of them being grown.